Pratt & Whitney has opened a 60,000-sq-ft ceramic matrix composites (CMC) engineering and development facility in Carlsbad, California. In addition to engineering and development, the facility will be capable of low-rate production of CMC materials for aerospace applications. The facility opening includes the addition of more than 60 jobs, the company added.
CMCs are made of ceramic fibers embedded within a ceramic matrix that can be used to manufacture engine parts that are one-third the weight of metallic parts. They also have a temperature capability that is several hundred degrees higher than superalloy parts, allowing for improved turbine engine fuel efficiency and weight savings, as well as reduced emissions and a smaller carbon footprint.
“Pratt & Whitney has been…pioneering new materials, aerodynamics and engine architectures,” said v-p of propulsion and materials technology Frank Preli. “Some of our best and brightest minds are innovating within this facility, and they will ensure that we continue to operate on the cutting edge of aviation technology for decades to come.”